Story for the Day: Captain Sarasa Darias Buthaena, Prince of Livanon

Sarasa makes his first appearance in Vol 2 of Commander and Den Asaan. He is an important recurring character in the series. Here is his history as taken from Vol 2:


At twenty, Sarasa Darias Buthaena had done more than most of his noble kinsmen would ever do at fifty. Growing up on his father Prince Darias’ moderate estate, he had learned the value in economy, the importance of good sense, and had inherited his father’s character of cheerfulness, prudence, and sensibility. His mother dying young and his father ill soon after, Sarasa was the only son of his particular branch of the Buthaena tree. He had learned to look after himself, had taught himself to read and write with some assistance from his uncle, and by ten was the master of his own tutelage. He learned well, cherishing an observant eye, from which he learned the arts of acrobatics and escape. Unable to inherit the throne, and with little inclination to do so if he should, he soon took to horse riding, swordplay, gained a fondness for dancing and the quieter hastiludes of his people. Where his peers had delighted in ostentatious celebrations, he had gloried in simplicity, leaving the royal quarter nearly every chance he was granted and venturing to the lower Livanon markets to revel in the contrast the peasantry supplied. He had seen many cruelties and sorrows during his time amongst the lower classes that he contrived to do something for them in his way without the supremacy of the throne to furnish his desires. When a copper could be given, there he gave silver, and when a hand was held out to him, he garnished it with an abundance of provisions. Wealth meant little to him unless it could be dispersed well, as his father had done, dealing generously with all the villeins on their estate. Livanon in past had been one of the richest nations on the Northern Continent, only overtaken by Lucentia where resources were concerned, and he had learned early not to squander his time or his fortune, but where he was generous with one, he could not be so liberal with the other: time was not imparted to him so handsomely as was consequence, for the loss of his father due to a family rivalry granted him the title of prince, the small estate, and the two golden-hilted cutlasses he kept forever at his sides. He had learned from his father’s contracted life and from the vindictiveness of his relatives that if he was to defend himself and live a long and prosperous life, he must act and arm himself to keep well. He requested permission from King Braeta to be admitted to into Livanon’s army before the usual age, and as he would not be deterred in his conviction, his wishes were fulfilled and his training began. During the day, he was a Private, and at night, he was the champion of Livanon’s poor. He asked for nothing in return, other than that he be allowed to live among them while leaving his estate in the care of the family Steward and assuming the name of Darias while wearing beggars clothes and dining in their simple homes. He preferred the gentle manners and hardy familiarity of the lower classes to the pertness and cold politeness of those he had been used to see every day in the palace. He earned the faith of the deprived and sought their kindness while being the instrument of his uncle’s resolve as a leader. He was the king’s general, and though the king was general himself, his diminishing health had compelled him to have Sarasa lead where his own son Aldan, the one who must inherit the throne, was too jealous and indolent to go in his stead. Sarasa had learned the arts of negotiation and warfare, and before he was twenty had the honour of rising above the various gradations of status and receiving his red tailcoat from the king’s hand, a vivid symbol of his unwavering service, making him only second to the general in the Livanon ranks.